Conference on local U.S.-China relations May 14

DENVER – The second annual Regional Conference on U.S.-China Local Relations will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 14, at the Tivoli Center, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver, with opportunities for businesses in Northern Colorado to connect with Chinese commerce.

The conference, set up by The Tai Initiative and Colorado Asian Chamber of Commerce, will feature the opportunity to meet with Luomei Shu, a representative of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The conference will address myriad issues regarding Chinese business opportunities and subnational U.S.-China relationships through a set of panel discussions and workshops.

Allen Barber, president of the Denver-Hainan Corp., will deliver the keynote address titled “The National View on the Growing Importance of Local Leadership.”

Chad Auer, former mayor of Firestone, and Paul Natale, former mayor of Commerce City, will join Conrad Lee, former mayor of Bellevue, Wash., on a panel discussion about how to make relationships with China work. Barber will moderate the discussion. Auer and Natale also will discuss their formation of the Colorado-based U.S.-China Cooperative Association of Elected Local Officials.

The conference could be a good opportunity for some Northern Colorado companies to expand their businesses by connecting with the Chinese commercial office and consulate, said Benjamin Leffel, director of research for the Tai Initiative.

Admission fees are 150 for full day or $90 for half day from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both tickets include lunch. There’s no deadline for the registration, but rates may go up after May 9.